Guayule Tire Rubber Composition Using Silane for Low Rolling Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The presence of bagasse in guayule rubber can detrimentally affect the properties of tire rubber compositions, especially when used in tires, and existing technologies do not effectively address this issue.

Innovation Solution

A tire rubber composition is developed using guayule rubber with a bagasse component and a filler component free of silica, supplemented with at least one silane, such as mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, or alkoxysilanes, to improve rolling resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If bagasse-containing guayule rubber is used in tire rubber composition, then the rubber composition can be produced with available guayule rubber, but the properties of the rubber composition are detrimentally affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability of guayule rubberVSAvoidproperties of rubber composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Silane is introduced as an intermediary substance that reacts with the bagasse component in guayule rubber to form a silane-modified rubber composition. This intermediary chemical agent enables the bagasse-containing rubber to achieve improved properties by creating new chemical bonds and structures that compensate for the detrimental effects of bagasse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical structure and properties of the rubber composition are modified by changing parameters through silane addition. The silane alters the molecular structure, crosslinking density, and chemical composition of the rubber, transforming the detrimental bagasse-containing rubber into a material with improved mechanical and physical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If silica-free filler is used in the rubber composition, then the composition can be simplified, but rolling resistance is not effectively reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiller compositionVSAvoidrolling resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Silane acts as an intermediary that enables silica-free fillers to achieve energy dissipation functions typically provided by silica. The silane-modified rubber composition creates alternative mechanisms for reducing rolling resistance without requiring traditional silica fillers, thus simplifying the overall filler system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If bagasse is present in guayule rubber, then the rubber can be produced from the guayule plant, but the bagasse detrimentally affects tire performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverubber production from guayule plantVSAvoidbagasse impact on tire performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The silane treatment converts the harmful bagasse component into a beneficial element of the rubber composition. By reacting silane with the bagasse-containing rubber, the previously detrimental lignocellulosic material becomes part of a crosslinked network that contributes to the overall performance and stability of the tire rubber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition enhances rolling resistance by effectively utilizing guayule rubber with bagasse, ensuring improved tire performance without the negative effects typically associated with silica-free fillers.

Implementation Method 1

A tire rubber composition is developed using guayule rubber with a bagasse component and a filler component free of silica, supplemented with at least one silane, such as mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, or alkoxysilanes, to improve rolling resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSilane crosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20250313680A1Tire rubber compositions combining bagasse-containing guayule rubber with silane and related methods
Publication Date: 2025.10.09 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • US20250313680A1 patent drawing
  • US20250313680A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods for improving the rolling resistance of a tire rubber composition by providing a rubber composition including a rubber component which includes a majority by weight of guayule rubber where the guayule rubber includes a bagasse component, and a filler component where the filler component is free of silica, and including at least one silane in the rubber composition, where the at least one silane is selected from the group consisting of mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, and alkoxysilanes. Also disclosed is a tire rubber composition which comprises (a) 100 parts of a rubber component including a majority by weight of guayule rubber where the guayule rubber includes a bagasse component, (b) a filler component, where the filler component is free of silica, and (c) at least one silane selected from the group consisting of mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, and alkoxysilanes.